COLLEGE CONVERSATIONS: How rising seniors should spend their summer vacation

Tuesday

Jun 6, 2017 at 10:12 AM

Lisa Kay Hingham Journal

Congratulations … you are about to enter senior year! You're getting ready to apply to colleges! What can you do this summer to help increase your chances of gaining admittance to the school of your choice?

Take the SAT. If you're prepared, or think you can be well prepared, you should take the August SAT. This is a great opportunity to prepare for the exam when you are not engaged in day-to-day school activities. But, if you are not prepared, choose a later date. There is no benefit to taking the test as “practice” or just to see “how well I'll do”. There are fewer than 40 centers offering the test, as opposed to more than 150 centers in October, so register as soon as possible. The August test lets you test without the distraction of Subject Tests and AP exams. And if you can't take the SAT, try to spend some time preparing for it. Or, take a Subject Test or two if you're ready for them, but not the SAT.

Get a job. Working is one of the best activities you can list on your application. Should you attend “X University's Summer Enrichment Program” to help get into that particular college or university? Here's the truth: these programs show that parents are likely wealthy enough to pay approximately $10,000 for them. Admissions counselors view you as not having imagination, initiative, or the individuality to come up with your own idea of what to do during the summer. Admission reps at selective schools don't necessarily push for these students. Get a job. Work matters. Think of all the ways that working relates to the ideal college student - self starter, time manager, team player, problem solver, team leader … well, you get the idea.

And just in case you think that attending summer programs will help you gain admittance, it likely won't. Terms on the website for the Stanford University summer enrichment program (known as the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute) state that attending won’t help a student’s case for admission. Thinking about Brown? Brown’s Dean of Admissions, Jim Miller, doesn’t give any extra weight to summer programs. “Zero,” he says. “We actually don’t know who’s been to our summer school. Some tell us. Some don’t. We have no idea what courses they’ve taken. We have no idea what their grades are.” Miller says the university doesn’t favor anyone who’s had the resources to attend summer courses. “We are very conscious about drawing a pretty clear line,” says Miller. Yes, Jim Miller explicitly states for the record that college summer programs have zero influence on admissions. So, instead of doing something that has zero influence...

Take a class. Admissions love to see that you spent time enriching yourself. Take an art class, a math class, a taco making class - a class that shows that you pursue your passion or a class that lets you explore a new passion.

Clean up your social presence. Your online identity plays a part in your admission decision. Based on a recent Kaplan study, the percentage of admissions officer who checked applicants' online presence almost doubled from 2014 to 46 percent, with 35 percent of those noting something that negatively impacted their decision. Make sure that your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social sites reflect your best ‘you’. If there is a post you wouldn't want your grandmother to see, remove it. Think about whether or not your posts portray you as college material.

n Post content that shows your interests. Share articles about those. Upload your music, performances or other art. Post a picture of you surfing, or tutoring, or whatever it is that you do.

n Stay away from controversy or those things that might be viewed as controversial (is that apple juice or something else in that glass?).

n Follow the social profiles of the schools in which you are interested. It's one of the ways schools will see your demonstrated interest, should you choose to apply.

Your posts will influence an admissions representative. Ensure they are a positive influence.

Enjoy your summer, and remember that what you do (or don't do) can keep you out of college. Give yourself every opportunity to attend the school of your choice. In this time of fierce competition at every school, ensure that your favorite school is mesmerized by your initiative!

Hingham resident Lisa Kay is a private college admissions counselor, specializing in standardized testing, college selection and application essays. She is your guide to getting in. For more than 10 years, she has had the joy of assisting students worldwide enter the colleges of their choice, from Ivy League schools to state universities, and every type of college in between. Reach her at 617-869-2074 or atlisakay@yourguidetogettingin.com. visit her at yourguidetogettingin.com.